Flushing valve



B. THOENS FLUSHING VALVE Filed March 6, `19215 Oct. 20, 1925.

\ NVENTO %4frad/ra Jug BY WM, zzz, fm, ATTORNEY.

patented lot., Zitti, 122255.

UNITED ,STATES lQF Fil BUE-SHARE TEGENS,

01E' NEW YQRK, N. Y.

FLUSHNG VALVE.

Application led Merch 6, 1923. serial No. 623,215.

usefulImprovements in Flushing Valves,ot`

which the following is a specilication.

rlhis invention relates to automaticlushing valves, particularly oi the type used to flush water closets. A great many valves of this character have been proposed in which a normally seated valve member is unseated by a hand lever and is automatically seated again after a predetermined:time or .after the passage of a predetermined quantity ot water. These prior valves, however, are open kto several serious objections; both a high water pressure and a large supply pipe are required ttor satisfactory operation, the valves have not been adapted 'to use with dii'l'erent heads or pressures or with dililerent et leed pipes, the mechanism tor tiniine; the seatine the valve is usually expensive, complicated and delicate, requin ingr `frequent adjustmentsand repairs to prevent leaks and to insure satisfactory operation, they are 'frequently noisy due to water hammer, and air is apt to collect in the valve casing, necessitating` periodic opening` and venting.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a valve in which the above objections have been overcome and 'to improve and simplify the construction in general. Other objects will be evident from the description and drawings in which:

Figure l is a. vertical section through a valve constructed in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 2 is a top plan view or" a portion thereof, cap "el being;l removed. u

Fig. 3 illustrates a variety of sizes olf the disc or riuy; 33h, interchangeable as hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, the flushing valve in the embodiment of the invention illustrated,I comprises a casing l0 ,closed at its upper end by a threaded cap C andvhaving an inlet pipe connection ll and an outlet pipe connection l2. rlhe lower portion ot the main body of the ycasing is cylindrical and has Lat the bottom lan outlet opening 13 andan `annular or conical valve seat 13a.

This opening is controlled by a reciprocable member comprising a stem 14 anda valve member `including a valve head 5 3 and a ring member or `disk lgot'larger diameter l thanthe valve head. The'valve member is provided with guides or wings lwwhi'ch4 kinsure`its accurate seating, and a vdepending stem 16 by which it may be unseatedy An arm 17 is provided for unseating "the reciprocable member, this being"secured-to` a shaft 18 mounted in the pocket 2l `in the valve casing. A hand lever 22 outside `the casing` serves to operate thearni 17 when 4 desired.

The valve stem la is secured to the valve member in any suitable manner such as'by screw threads, and extending` upwardly, is supported by the closingv v`and retarding mechanism, which comprises "a piston 24 threaded on ,theendot the valve stem and slidably `litting in a retarding chamber 25 formed in a cylindrical member 2.6`secured in place by a lange 27 clamped between the cap C andthe casing 10. The member 26 has a number ot holes 2S to allow water to pass freelyV from one side of the flange to the other and also has a bore 29 concentric with the piston cylinder and in which the valve stem slides.

The cylinder' wall of the member 26 above the flange 2T is formed. with several notches or slots to provide ports Vvfor admitting water Afrom the casing l0 to the chamber 25 when the piston is FKat the upper end olf its travel, the location of the ports being such c thatthey are opened to the chamber 25 only when the pistonis substantially at sai-d p0- sition. Thus the admission of water to the chamber 25 is under the control of the piston 24. The piston and valve stem may b e provided with suitable packing, ,as shown at 3l and 32.

It is desirable that considerable time elapse between the unseating and seating of the valve member and it is also necessary to insure that sullicient pnessure be maintained in the casing to cause the piston to seat the valve member when the latter is raised to open the outlet. To this end, the

lower portion l()a of the casing in which the valve member travels is made cylindricaland is spaced from the valve member to provide a restricted passage therebetween. Since the inside surface of the casing is parallel to the line of travel of the valve the effective area of this passage will remain constant throughout the limits of travel d of the valve member. The area of the passage is less than the area of either the inlet or the outlet openings, and thus suiiicient pressure to close the valve is maintainedy in the casing when the outlet is opened.

The area of the passage can be regulated in order to adapt the liushing valve to different sizes of feed pipes. For this purpose an interchangeable extension is provided on the valve member', which projects in proximity to the other member. For a given installation that size of extension is selected which restricts the passage to a smaller area than 'that of the particular feed pipe used. This extension is preferably a ring member Y 331 constituting part of the valve member and being secured to the valve head in any desired manner, such as by clamping be* tween a shoulder ltb on the valve stem and the boss la of the valve head.

The ring member 33h also serves as an aspirator member, a space Stbeing left between the valve and aspirator member, to provide an outlet at low pressure from the retarding chamber. TWater flowing through the restricted passage between the edge of the aspirator member and the casing a creates suction in the space 34, into which the water in the retarding chamber is discharged through radial ducts bore 36 in the valve stem and radial ducts 37 in the valve boss. A needle valve 3S is threaded into an axial opening in the piston serving the double function of preventing the entry of any substantial quantity of water from the cap C into the bore 36 and of regulating the e'tl'ective area of the opening from the chamber 25 into said bore through the ducts rihis needle valve may be adjusted by a screw driver.

It frequently happens that air collects in the upper portion of the casing in valves of this type and causes noisy operation due to water hammer. Heretofore it has been necessary periodically to vent the air by removing a plug in the cap C. One object of the present invention is to provide a suitable outlet or conduit which is openedwhenever the valve is unseated to exhaust the air from the upper portion of the casing. This conduit provides communication between the upper interior portion of the casing` and the restricted passage in the lower portion and may be formed in any desired manner. its shown in the drawing, l prefer to employ the bore and to establish communication therewith by means of a small bore or duct 40 in the needle valve, lea-ding from the upper side of the piston to the bore 3G. This duct l() is sufficiently small to prevent the flow of any appreciable quantity of water, but at the same time allows the free passage of air.

The operation of the device is as follows: rlChe pressure of the water in the valve cas-b ing always acts on the upper side of the piston and so normally holds the valve seated. Vl'lhen the lever 22 is operated, the piston and valve member rigidly connected by the valve stem, take the positions indicated by broken lines in Figure l. `Water flows through the outlet opening, but since theeffeet-ive area of the outlet is restricted, some considerable pressure is maintained above the valve. Communication is established between the cap C and the low pressure space 3a through ducts l0, 36 and 37, any air present in the cap being drawn out by the suction produced by yhe water flowing past the valve member. l/ilhen the piston reaches its uppermosty position the ports 30 are opened and water flows into the piston chamber 25 filling the latter. Although some water may How through the ducts 4l() and 86 to 34, the quantity is negligible and is not sufficient to relieve the piston of the pressure of the water in the casing. Therefore, when the handle is released pressure of water on the upper side of the piston begins to close the valve and as soon as the piston has descended slightly, ports 8O are closed. rlhe valve therefore cannot close faster than water can escape from the cylinder, the only outlet from the cylinder being through the chiots to bore 86. Since this outlet is restricted by the needle valve 38, considerable time is required for the valve to close.

It has been found that by selecting a ring member 83" of proper size, a given valve will operate satisfactorily with a 311 inch supply pipe. Thus the present valve may be used in buildings' which do not have large enough piping to operate the ordinary flush valve. Most of the manufacturers of prior valves will not recommend or guarantee them unless supplied by at least a 1il/L inch pipe.

The invention is not limited to the specific details described by way of example, but includes such modifications and changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described thc invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a `flushing valve, in combination, a casing having inlet and outlet openings, a reciprocable member within the casing for controlling the outlet opening, and means for unseating said reciprccable member, the casing wall adjacent the path of said inem ber being spaced from the member to form a restricted passage the effective area of which is constant irrespective of the amount Vber being spaced from the member to form a restricted passage the effective area ot .which is less than the area ot the outlet opening, whereby an excess of pressure is built up on one side of said reciprocable member, said reciprocable member being adapted to be automatically closed by said excess pressure.

3. In a iiushing valve, in combination, a casing having inlet and outlet openings, a reciprocable member within the casing for controlling` the outlet opening and means for unseating said reciprocable member, the casing wall adjacent the path of said member being spaced from the member to torm a restricted passage the eective area of which is less than the area of the inlet opening, whereby an excess of pressure is built up on one side of said reciprocable member, said reciprocable'member being adapted to be automatically closed by said excess pressure,

l. In a flushing valve, in combination, a casing having inlet and outlet openings, a reciprocable member, within the casing for controlling the outlet opening, and means ttor unseating said reciprocable member, the casing wall adpicent the path or said member being spaced from the member to torni -a restricted passage the e'tl'ective area of which is less than the area of either the inlet or outlet opening, whereby an excess of pressure is built up on one side ot said reciprocable member, said reciprocable member being adapted to be automatically closed by said excess pressure.

In a flushing valve, in combination, a casing member having` inlet and outlet openings, a reciprocable member for controlling the outlet opening, means for unscating said reciprocable member, and means on one ot said members cooperating with the other member to 'form a restricted pasto the outlet opening, whereby an excess ot pressure is lniilit up on one side of said reciprocablc member, said reciprocable member being adapted be automatically closed by said excess pressure.

6. lin a flushing valve, in combination, a casing member having inlet and Outlet openings, a reciprocable member in the casing` lor controlling the outlet opening, means for unseating said reciprocable member, and an extension on one o-said members, said extension cooperating with the other member' to form a restricted passage to the outlet when the valve member is open, whereby an excess ot pressure is built up on one side olf said reciprocable member, said reciprocable `member being adapted to be automatically closed by said excess pressure.

7. ln a flushing valve, in combination, a casing member having inlet and .outlet openings, a reciprocable member in the casing tor controlling the outlet opening, means lier unseating said rcciprocable memi ber, and a removable extension on one oig said members, said cx ision cooperating with the other member to 'liorm a restricted passage to the outlet when the valve member is open, whereby an excess oif pressure is built up on one side ot said reciprocable member, said reciprocable member being adapted to be automatically closed by said excess pressure. i

8. ln a flushing valve, in combination, a casing having inlet and outlet openings, a valve head controlling the outlet opening, means for unseating said valve head, and means adjacent the valve head extending in close proximity to the casing to form a refstricted passage when the valve is open, whereby an excess of pressure is built up on one side oli said valve head, said valve head i being adapted to be automatically closed by said excess pressure.

9. ln a 'liushing valve, in combination, a casing member having inlet and outlet openings, a reciprocable member for controlling the outlet opening, the casing wall being` spaced from the reciprocable member to form a restricted passage therebetweenF means for unseating the reciprocable member, and means in the casing for seating the reciprocable member, one of said members having' -conduit allording communication betweenthe upper interior portion of the casing and said passage whereby the flow of water throughv said passage will produce suction in said conduit and withdraw air collected in said portion of the casing.

l0. ln la flushing valve, in combination, a casing member' having inlet and out-let open ings, a reciprocable member for controlling the outlet opening, the casing wall being spaced from the reciprocable member to form a restricted passage therebetween, means for uuseating` the reciprocable member, means in the casing lor seating the reciprocable member, and a restricted conduit in the reciprocable member alilording communication between the upper interior portion of the asing and said passage, whereby the rlow ol water through said passage will produce a suction in said conduit and withdraw' air collected in said portion of the casing.

ll. ln a lflushing valve, in combination, a

.casing havin@ an inlet o Jenin@ a c lindrical b D b? til! portion and an outlet opening at one end ot the cylindrical portion, a valve head in the cylindri lal portion adapted to close the out- 4Iet opening, and a ring member rigidly connected to the valve head and slightly spaced there'tron'i, and a conduit affording communication between the upper interior portion ot the casing and the space adjacent the ring member, the ring member extending in proximity to the casing whereby said 'space is maintained at low pressure when water A@"lows between said ring member and casing.

l2. in a flushing valve, in combination, a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, a valve member for closing the opening liavi a rentively long travel, and means Yl'or une ting the valve member, the wall ot' the `c ng being spaced from the valve niemeer to forma restricted passage ot constant eti'ective area irrespective of the er;- tent ot movement of the valve member after it has been unseated, whereby an excess ot pressure is built up on one side of said valve member, said valve member being adapted to be automatically closed by said excess pressure.

13. ln a flushing valve, in combination, a casing member having inlet and outlet openings, a valve head ttor controlling the outlet opening, means tor unseating the valve head, slowly acting means tor automaticaily seating the valve head, and a removable element carried by one of said members adjacent the outlet opening and extendingl in close proximity to the other member to restrict the ol'lective area ot' the passage through the casing, said element being replaceable by another element oit' different sine lo adapt the valve to ditterent sizes ot toed pipes.

in a flushing valve, in combination, a casing having inlet and outlet openings, a valve member tor controlling theV outlet opening, the casing wall being spaced from the valve member to torni a restricted pastherebetween, means for unseating the valve member, a piston rigidly secured to the valve member, a retarding chamber closed by the piston, the piston being subject at all times to the pressure ot' liquid in the casing on one side and to the presure ot liquid in the retarding chamber on the opposite side, and a restricted outlet trom the retarding cnamber to said passage.

l5. In a flushing valve, in combination, a casing having inlet and outlet openings, a valve member tor controlling the outlet opening, the casing wall being spaced trom the valve member to term a restricted passage therebetween, means tor unseating the valve member, a piston rigidly secured to the valve member and subject at all times to the pressure or" liquid in the casing on one side, means for retarding said piston comprising a chamber closed by the piston, the chamber havingy an inlet port opened to admit liquid when the valve member is unseated, and a restricted outlet from the chamber to said passage.

16. ln a tlushing valvea in combination, a asinghaving inlet and outlet openings, a valve member tor controlling the outlet opening, the casing wall being spaced from the valve member to t'orm a restricted passage, means for unseating the valve ment ber, a piston rigidly secured' to the valve member and subject at all times to the pressure of liquid in the casing on one side,

Vmeans tor retarding said piston comprising a chamber closed by the piston, the chamber having,` an inletport opened by the piston to admit liquid to the chamber when the valve member is unseated, and a restricted outlet passage in the valve member affording communication between the chamber and said first passage.

17. ln a flushing valve, in combination, a casing having inlet and outlet openings, a valve member for controling the outlet opening, the casing wall being spaced from the valve member to form a restricted passage therebetween, means tor unseating the valve member, a piston rigidly secured to the valve member, a retarding chamber closed by the pistons the piston being subject at all times to the pressure oi liquid in the casing on one side and to the pressure ot liquid in the retarding chamber on the opposite side, a restricted outlet trom the retarding chamber to said passage, and means t'or exhausting air from Vthe upper interior portion ot the casing when the valve is unseated.

18. In a flushing valve7 in combination, a casing having inlet and outlet openings, a valve member or controlling the outlet opening, the casing wall being spaced from the Valve member to form a restricted passage therebetween, means for unseating the valve member, a piston rigidly secured to the valve member, a retarding chamber closed by the piston, the piston being subject at all times to the pressure of liquid in the casing on one side and to the pressure ot liquid in the retarding chamber on the opposite side, a restricted outlet trom the retarding chamber to said passage, and a conduit alifor'ding.communication between the upper side of the piston and said outlet.

19. In a Hushing valve, in combination, a casing having inlet and outlet openings1 a valve head for controlling the outlet opening, the casing wall being spaced from the valve member to form a restricted passage therebetween, means for unseating the valve head, an aspirator member secured to the valve head and adjacent thereto, a hollow stem secured to the valve head and communicating with the space between the valve head and aspirator member, cylindrical member having :L i'etal'diug chamber therein, a piston dosing the chamber, the valve stem lmssiiig through the chamber and being secured to the piston, ports in the chamber uncovered by the piston when the valve head is unseated, a restricted outlet from the chamber into the 'valve Steme m11 zi passage affording communication between the upper side ot the piston and the valve Stem.

tn testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

BURCHARD THOENS. 

